MASON, William COLLECTION€¦ · Personal Correspondence And Writings S236/14 Special List Finance S236/15 Special List Samples Of Building Materials S236/16/ Special List Oversize

MASON, William COLLECTION Architecture Museum, University of South Australia

Page 1

Architecture Museum, University of South Australia. Email [email protected] last updated 6 September 2017

MASON, William SERIES 236

William Mason (3/11/1917–17/8/2000) was born and raised in Sydney but worked mainly in

the Northern Territory.

Mason left school at the end of 1932 with an Intermediate Certificate and in 1936 completed a

conversion course to matriculate. Between 1937 and 1952 he studied architecture at Sydney

Technical College. Frank Bloomfield, a well-known Sydney architect, took him on as a

draughtsman and in 1956 Mason finally gained his registration.

Between 1946 and 1948 Mason worked for the Housing Commission as a draughtsman,

updating existing kitchen designs. In 1949 he became an architect with the Commonwealth

Department of Works in Sydney. He drew up plans and alterations for post offices in the city

and suburban and rural areas; military installations in suburban and rural areas; a Qantas

hangar at Mascot; and alterations to Kirribilli House. In about 1957 he became a research

architect in the Department of Labour and National Service. In this position he examined

conditions for factories and offices, for example the Austin Motor Company and Vicks

Company, because work practices influenced building practices. He also looked at office

layout with respect to function to assess how well buildings worked and studied the suitability

of office furniture and equipment.

On a friend’s recommendation about the favourable lifestyle in Darwin, in 1960 Mason

applied successfully for a job with the Department of Works in Darwin where he was put in

charge of all building works in the Northern Territory with a staff of one – a building

inspector. He was also responsible for setting up the administrative section of the Building

Board. He fought to get an engineer appointed and prepared changes to the regulations and

instigated administration changes that put him in conflict with the Board. It took six years,

after much wrangling and disruption in the department, to have these finally approved.

Mason’s responsibilities included European and Aboriginal housing; stores; administration;

animal husbandry; forestry; preschool, primary and high schools; and police and gaols. He

had to determine if the building was needed, exactly what it was to be used for, and then how

efficiently the building could be used for a minimal cost. He worked directly on the

Aboriginal settlements of Maningrida on the Arafura Sea near Arnhem Land and Papunya,

about 200 miles west of Alice Springs. Both had been leprosariums and families had moved

there to be near their relatives. As well, he surveyed all Aboriginal settlements of between

2000 and 12,200 inhabitants to determine what was there and to make proposals for the

development of water supplies, facilities generally available in small towns, potential work

for residents, accommodation for staff, and stores.

Settlements had developed as centres for storehouses to improve eating habits, which led to

the development of hospitals and the infrastructure necessary for hygiene. Education for

Aboriginals led to reasons for further settlements. As children had to learn English, the

Papunya children boarded in the accommodation provided. Their parents began to camp at the

school as foodstuffs disappeared from outlying areas, leading to a need for toilets, food,

kitchen, and eating halls: one for men and one for women. The population survival rate of the

Aboriginal inhabitants was higher than the then average because of medical assistance, which

led to improved health.


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After Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin in 1974, the Darwin Reconstruction Commission

took control and the Works Department and Mason’s job disappeared. He and his wife and

family left Darwin in April 1976 to live at the Adelaide suburb of Mt Osmond. In 1986 he

moved to Thirkell Street, Beaumont, building a house based on a modified Jennings plan.

Mason was active in the Darwin community and was the inaugural President of its All

Nations Club, formed in the late 1960s. His interest in history led him to become a founding

member of the Northern Territory History Society. After he moved to Adelaide he continued

to pursue his interest in history, becoming a founding member of the Burnside Historical

Society.

SOURCES Christine Garnaut interviews with William Mason, 18 November 1997, 11 February 1998, 17

February 1998. Mason Collection, Architecture Museum, University of South Australia.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

This collection is comprised of Magazine Articles; Plans, Drawings And Estimates;

Newspaper And Magazine Clippings; Pamphlets, Brochures and Handbooks; documents from

the Commonwealth of Aust. Dept. of Works and Housing, Naval Section; Typed Extracts,

Minutes And Reports; Government Department Forms Department Housing And

Construction; Building Code For Northern Territory; Various Typed S.A. Papers And Notes;

Personal Correspondence And Writings; Samples Of Building Materials; Mason's Thesis:

Railways And Their Structures; Slides; and Job Specifications.


Page 3


Magazine Articles S236/1

Special List

Plans, Drawings And Estimates S236/2

Special List

Newspaper And Magazine Clippings S236/3

Special List

Miscellaneous S236/4

Special List

Pamphlets, Brochures And Handbooks S236/5

Special List

Photocopied Papers S236/7

Special List

Commonwealth Of Aust. Dept. Of Works And Housing, Naval Section

S236/8

Special List

Typed Extracts , Minutes And Reports S236/9

Special List

Government Department Forms S236/10

Special List

Department Housing And Construction S236/11

Special List

Building Code For Northern Territory S236/12

Special List

Various Typed S.A. Papers And Notes S236/13

Special List

Personal Correspondence And Writings S236/14

Special List

Finance S236/15

Special List

Samples Of Building Materials S236/16/

Special List

Oversize Parcels S236/17

Special List

Mason's Thesis: Railways And Their Structures. S236/18

Special List

Slides S236/19

Special List

Job Specifications S236/20

Special List


Page 4


S236/1 Magazine Articles

S236/1/1 'Like the Factories he Designed Albert Kahn Lived to

Work'. In Smithsonian magazine Jan 1994. Sept 1998,

pp23-30 &115-124. [ND] pp145-156

Sep 1998.

Jan 1994

S236/1/2 House Beautiful, April 1968, pp104-123

Architectural Forum, May 1943, pp69-70

April 1968

May 1943

S236/1/3 House and Garden, Oct 1971, pp103-108

Oct 1971

S236/1/4a

S236/1/4b

S236/1/4c

'Houses' in The Architectural Forum





'Houses' in The Architectural forum


The Architectural Forum

'Products and practices'

'IRB Buildings'

'Health facility

'Service Station'

'Hardware Store'

'Bakery and Candy Store'

'High School'

'City Hall'

'Hotel'

The Architectural Forum

'Products and practice: Plywood

'Products and practice: Electronics

'Products and practice: Review of new lamps

'Products and practice: Drywall construction

'Products and practice: Dehumidifying

'Products and practice: Television

'Products and practice: Water supply piping

May 1941

March 1942

June 1942

Aug, Sept, Oct

Nov, 1942

March, April

July, Sept. 1943

Jan., Feb., June,

Aug., Nov.

Dec.1944

Feb.1948

Feb. 1943

May 1943

May 1943

May 1943

May 1943

May 1943

May 1943

May 1943

March 1941

Jan. 1944

July 1944

Oct. 1944

Aug. 1944

April 1945

Dec. 1944

S236/1/5 The Australian Home Beautiful Jan 1942,

May 1947

Dec 1947,

Dec1948,

April 1949

July 1950

Oct 1950


Page 5


S236/1/6 Copies of Architecture Jan, April, July,

Oct, Dec 1939.

Oct, Nov 1940.

Jan, June, Aug,

1941.

S236/1/7 Copies of Art in Australia. June 1941, p67. Sept 1941

pp75-77. Contents page, Series 4 No 3, Sept, Oct.

Nov 1941

Reprint from Australian Forest Industries journal,

Vol.43, No2, March 1977

1941

1977

S236/1/8 Copies Decoration and Glass. June, July, Aug, Oct,

1939

Jan, June, July, Oct, Nov, 1940

Dec, 1941

1939

1940

1941

S236/1/9

Building. May 1939, pp18-25 1939

S236/1/10 Architecture in Australia pp 479-486 'Documents on

Australian Architecture' by W. V. Mason

June 1968

S236/1/11 Unknown provenance. 'Short cuts to linear

perspective' Frederick Crowther. 'Little things that

matter: diagrams' William Harvey. 'Simplified

procedure devised for scaling perspective drawings'

unknown author. 'Experts discuss sun-heated houses'

unknown author.’ The housing explosion' no author.

'Ekistics' no author. 'Down on the ground, off the

bandwagon', John Burton. 'Weipa: after 16 years it's

impact is global' no author. 'Indonesia' no author.

'Federation Square' Stephen Varady. 'Aluminium

yacht for Admirals Cup team' no author.

October 1950

S236/1/12

Architecture Australia 'Federation Square' Nov/Dec 1997

S236/1/13 The Listener 'Bath revisited' Nov. 1935

S236/1/14 BCME 'Is your building too safe'

BCME 'Quality work and construction tolerances'

November

February

S236/1/15 R.I.B.A. Journal, 'Review of construction and

materials'

April 1948

S236/1/16 Architectural Record

'Building Types Study'

'New York State building code commission'

'Modular coordination in Frame Houses'

October 1951

June 1951

May 1951


Page 6


'Designed for subdivisions'

'Satisfactory practice'

July 1950

May 1950

S236/1/17a

Engineering

'The history of road vehicles'

'Mr. H. Cecil Booth; inventor of the vacuum cleaner

'Hand-wrought chains'

'Science and engineering'

'International building exhibition at Paris'

'The art of heating and ventilation' by Neville S.

Billington

'Influence of the engineer on sea transport and trade'

by S. F. Dorey

'Bucket-wheel excavator'

'The resurrection of Icarus'

'Development of firearms'

January 1955

February 1955

March 1955

June 1955

July 1955

August 1955

Sept. 1955

Oct. 1955

Dec. 1955

Dec. 1955

S236/1/17b Engineering

'Engineering centenaries of 1956

'The human element'

'A short history of gears'

'Removal of dust'

'Domestic heating in Great Britain, by W. F. B. Shaw

'Joseph Stenson and the Britania Bridge' by I.M.F.

Hooker and Dermott Hunt

'Historic engines and machines in the Midlands

'Water turbine manufacture' 1856-1956

'The domestic Heat Pump'

'Historical and scientific background of automation

by J.F. Coales

Jan. 1956

Feb. 1956

Feb. 1956

April 1956

May 1956

June 1956

July 1956

August 1956

Sept. 1956

S236/1/17c Engineering

'Bearings since the Stone Age' by C. St.C. Davison

'The Mayflower 11'

'Telford: Man of his age'

'Origin of the Foot-measure' by C. St.C. Davison

Jan. 1957

May 1957

Aug. 1957

Oct. 1957

S236/1/17d Engineering

Three human reactions' by Z. M. T. Tarkowski

'Which should turn - wheel or axle?'

'Anxiety and escape 'by Z. M. T. Tarkowski

'Authoritarian barriers to communication' by Z.M.T.

Tarkowski

'America is still going places'

'Training to understand people' by Z.M.T. Tarkowski

'Craft workshops displayed'

'Naperian log'

April 1958

April 1958

May 1958

June1958

July 1958

Sept. 1958

Oct. 1958

Nov.1958

S236/1/18 Unknown provenance 'The new look Project House' n.d.


Page 7


S236/1/19 Unknown provenance 'Old colonial architecture' n.d.

S236/1/20 Building : Lighting : Engineering

'The old order changeth'

'Dimension in building'

June 1958

Sept. 1958


Page 8


S236/2 Plans, Drawings and Estimates

S236/2/1 Proposed dining room Alice Springs Gaol, for the

Department of Territories, N.T. Administration

n.d.

S236/2/2 Floor plan. Suggested nucleas house for Ranger at

Coburg Terrace, N.T. Administration.

n.d.

S236/2/3 Plans and elevations. House for Joseph and Amanda

Gosling, 3 Maslin Street, Wangari, N.T.

n.d.

S236/2/4 Plans and elevations. House at 53 Hudsonfysh

Avenue, Fannie Bay, N.T.

n.d.

S236/2/5 Floor and site plans. Glenunga Close, 591 Portrush

Road.

n.d.

S236/2/6 Floor plans, ref. N/H/4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Plus floor plans on

large sheet titled 'Single Pensioner'.

1960

S236/2/7 Floor plans and proposed extensions for house of Dr.

and Mrs M. P. Heasley, 153 Fisher Street, Malvern.

1989

S236/2/8 Drawings from "Draughtsmanship Perspective", and

"American Housing", Architects Journal,

Nov. 1948,

Feb. 1949

April 1936

S236/2/9 Various drawings for residence at 84, Gleneagles

Road, Mt. Osmond.

n.d.

S236/2/10 Estimate summary for construction of house at 887,

Rossiter Street, Rapid Creek.

n.d.

S236/2/11

Notated plans of proposed house for W V Mason, Lot

84, Gleneagles Rd, Mount Osmond

Oct 1976

S236/2/12

GPO Sydney. Additional floor s to annexe. (A4

photocopies)

S236/2/13 Sketch drawings: Proposed T.A.S. School, H.M.A.S.

Penguin, Balmoral Naval Depot. For Dept of Navy.

(A4 photocopies)

5/4/1949

S236/2/14/

1

2

3

4

W/coloured ozalid, house for W V Mason at 83

Prince Edward Ave, Earlewood

Details of foundation columns. Ink on trace

Ink on linen. Plan & elevations

Photos & pencil on trace. Plan & aspects for house.

6/6/1949

n.d.

n.d.

Dec 53


Page 9


Submitted for marks.

S236/2/15/

1

2

3

4

Student work.

Problem 1/53/V. Pencil on trace. Draw

Problem 1/53/V. Pencil & wash on cartridge

Problem 1/53/V. Pencil on cartridge

Not labelled. Pencil on paper. Markers comments.

1953

1953

1953

n.d.

S236/2/16

1

2

3

4

Student work.

Architectural Exhibition. Pencil & ink on trace.

Exterior view untitled. Wash on trace. Sem. 2

Untitled sketch. Ink on trace

Replanning for Victoria Cross, Sydney. Ink on trace

1954

1955

n.d.

n.d.

S236/2/17

1

2

Student work.

Untitled drawing of flats. Ink on trace

10 pgs. Rebuilding hospital. Ink on trace. Markers

comments.

n.d.

1954

S236/2/18 Mr & Mrs Goslings house, 3 Mazlin St, Casurina,

NT. Alterations to comply with 1975 (Darwin)

Cyclone Code.

n.d.

S236/2/19

1A-D

2A-D

3

4

5

S R Cavenagh house, Langton Rd, Howard Spings.

Details of foundations, walls & ceilings. Ink on paper

Preliminary sketches of house. Pencil on trace

Secondary sketch of house. Ozalid + pencil correct'ns

Ozalid copy of final drawing

Final drawing of house. Ink on butter paper

1975

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

n.d.

S238/2/20

1

2

3

4

John W Roberts & Assoc, Sydney. Plan for Sydney

University Union Theatre.

Ozalid of plan at level 3. Drg No 3

Ozalid of long section 'AA'. Drg no 5

Ozalid of Parramatta Rd elevation. Drg no 8

Untitled ozalid of long Section 'AA'

n.d.

S236/2/21 Sketch of entertainment area with job allocations and

comments. Berry St, Darwin. Pencil on trace.

n.d.


Page 10


S236/3 Newspaper and Magazine Clippings

S236/3/1 Pictures and drawings of various automatic doors:

Industrial and domestic.

n.d.

S236/3/2 Clippings, newspaper and magazine on Sydney

harbourside and homes, salt damp, S.A. coastline.

'Forum' and 'Plain Words' discussion on various

topics. 'Reports' from Greece, Turkey and Spain.

n.d.

S236/3/3 Clippings:

Theatres, Auditoriums and Similar

S236/3/4 Native and Regional Architecture

S236/3/5 Town Planning (inc. personal note by Mason)

S236/3/6 Professional Practices, Building Methods,

Management & Administration, Family Studies,

Living Aids.

S236/3/7 Acoustics (incl. Personal notes by Mason)

S236/3/8 Public Housing. War Housing


Page 11


S236/4 Miscellaneous

S236/4/1 Historical poster for "The Australian Pictorial

Weekly"

n.d.

S236/4/2 Job advertisement "S.A. Advertiser" April 1977

S236/4/3 Metters price list

Percentage listings of site details for Plowman Street

Alice Springs.

Oct. 1945

n.d.

S236/4/4 Correspondence, quotations, for tradesmen, and

ACROW Steel Formwork

n.d.

S236/4/5 Samples of window film

n.d.


Page 12


S236/5 Pamphlets, Brochures and Handbooks

S236/5/1a Pamphlet: "Progress: The Australian Architectural

Convention", RAIA. Courier-Mail Printing

Nov. 1952

S236/5/1b Pamphlet: "Radio relay system; Darwin -Mt. Isa" n.d.

S236/5/2 Design handbook, "Steel-mesh reinforcing fabric" n.d.

S236/5/3 Brochures, "Martin Place: opening stage 2". Council

of the City of Sydney. Martin Place pedestrian

precinct, action plan no.24. Clarke Gazzard architects.

Photocopies of Martin Place and ground plan.

July 1976

n.d.

S236/5/4a Information sheets: 'Concrete information', Cement

and Concrete Association of Australia.

June 1978

May 1986

Feb.1983

S236/5/4b Pamphlet: 'Surface finishes for concrete paving',

Cement and Concrete Association of Australia.

n.d.

S236/5/4c Brochure: 'Pedestrian Ways', Cement and Concrete

Association of Australia, Harbour Press.

n.d.

S236/5/4d Brochure: 'Cities are for people', Cement and

Concrete Association of Australia, Harbour Press.

n.d.

S236/5/5 Pamphlet: 'A Flexible house for happier living',

Revere Copper and Brass Inc., N.Y.

n.d.

S236/5/6 Pamphlet: 'Architectures Australiennnes', Exposition

of the Australian Embassy, Paris. (lang.French)

Nov 1982-

Jan. 1983

S236/5/7 Pamphlet: 'Is your home secure?' Sun Alliance

Australia-S.A. Police, Adelaide

n.d.

S236/5/8a Information sheets:

'Termite protection policy', Services S.A., Building

management S.A. 'Control of development'- Hills

face zone', S.A. Planning Authority. 'Control of land

subdivision - Hills face zone, S.A. Planning

Authority.

'Fee guide', R.A.I.A.

March 1988

Nov. 1975

March 1988

S236/5/8b Information sheets:

'Adelaide skylights', CSIRO Information service:

division of building research, several topics.

'Monarch roller blinds and doors', A.R.C. Engineering

Pty. Ltd., reinforcing fabric price list.

1977

n.d.


Page 13


S236/5/8c Information sheets plus correspondence:

Atlantis Corporation Pty. Ltd. 'Sub surface drainage',

'Structural steel dimensions'

'Decorative fibrous plaster', Adelaide fibrous plaster

works Pty.Ltd.

'Shakespeares second globe' (advertising leaflet)

1994

1995

n.d.

n.d.

S236/5/8d Information sheets;

Lead by Lead Development Assoc.

Lead Alloys,

Water supply,

sanitation

S236/5/9 Information sheet:

Tubewrights (Aust) Ltd. in associon with

Stewarts and Lloyds (Aust) Pty. Ltd. Steel products

and their uses.

n.d.

S236/5/10 Leaflet: Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme.

n.d.

S236/5/11 Brochure: Humes design aids reinforcements.

n.d.

S236/5/12 Leaflet: The Fantastic Plastics

n.d.

S236/6 Removed to S236/14/8


Page 14


S236/7 Photocopied Papers

S236/7/1 Photocopied article 'Tomorrow's housing is on the

way', Mark Walkier Century of wonders 1872-1972

May 1972


Page 15


S236/8 Commonwealth of Aust. Dept. of Works and Housing, Naval section

S236/8/1 Reference Data: various drawings , specifications and

graphs, Commonwealth of Australia Department of

Works and Housing, Naval section

1945


Page 16


S236/9 Typed Extracts , Minutes and Reports

S236/9/1 Typed foolscap pages of extracts on welfare work,

office furniture and office accommodation

1960

S236/9/2 Typed foolscap pages on occupation health 1960

S236/9/3 Typed foolscap pages on N.T. award wages. 1970

S236/9/4 Typed minutes: Inter departmental committee -

Design of tropical buildings

1957

S236/9/5 Typed report: pre-cast concrete dwellings 1959

S236/9/6 Typed memos, correspondence, reference copies 1960-61

S236/9/7 Typed foolscap report- Maintenance of

Commonwealth works assets.

n.d.

S236/9/8 Typed foolscap paper- Information on the N.T.: The

Public Service.

n.d.

S236/9/9 Typed foolscap specification for erection of a timber

framed house

n.d.

S236/9/10 Typed foolscap programme for 1957-58. Industrial

building design. Inspections of factories and offices.

n.d.

S236/9/11 Typed foolscap report: 'Principles of planning' re-

airport.

n.d.

S236/9/12 Typed foolscap extracts on acoustics, house plans

protection of steel plate, corrosion of steel.

1960

S236/9/13 Typed copies of works programmes N.T. 1967-68

S236/9/14 Typed letter and article: 'Fire and space separation' 1960

S236/9/15 Typed description of residence at Maranboy Police

Station

n.d.


Page 17


S236/10 Government Department Forms

S236/10/1 Department of Works form: "General Conditions of

Contract

1969


Page 18


S236/11 Department Housing and Construction

S236/11/1 Extract of Darwin reconstruction study, Department

of Housing and Construction.

n.d.


Page 19


S236/12 Building Code for Northern Territory

S236/12/1 Lecture, 'Town planning and subdivision and

surveying', H. D. Robb

n.d.


Page 20


S236/13 Various Typed S.A. papers and notes

S236/13/1 'How to install a draught-proof sliding door' n.d.

S236/13/2 'Colour' 1959

S236/13/3 Lecture notes

'Early housing styles in S.A. - A double twilight',

Gordon Young. (Given twice)

Principles of Composition

June 1981

March 1982

S236/13/4 Historical survey of building construction, Lobethal. n.d.

S236/13/5 Theory of Architecture, Harry Foskett. (incl. Notes by

Mason for Theory of Architecture)

The Elements of Architecture Design by Henry Pryor

1946

1947


Page 21


S236/14 Personal correspondence and writings

S236/14/1 Typed transcript of W. Mason interview

Obituary notice, Advertiser

18 Nov 1997

24 Aug 2000

S236/14/2 Correspondence: various, regarding Historic Grange

Vineyards near Magill.

1983

S236/14/3 Articles and typed notes regarding the Burnside

Historical Society.

1982-88

S236/14/4 Letter to 'The Dalesman' and relevant cuttings 1985

S236/14/5 Original handwritten and typed copy of Mason's

article 'Patterns of Change'.

1965

S236/14/6 Photocopy of 'North Bondi Memories' March 1998

S236/14/7 Educational certificates and letters of application 1953-81

S236/14/8 Article and photocopy of same by Mason on 'State

arbitration systems' Blueprint.

Paper on 'Arbitration and The Northern Territory' W.

V. Mason.

Handwritten report on the building of a police station.

Job specification for Works Officer.

Handwritten assessment for 'Mines and Water

Resources Branch' Works Department, Darwin.

Handwritten attachment (photocopy) re: Historical

Society.

Dec. 1963

1923-30

1960

31 July 1969

14 March 1983


Page 22


S236/15 Finance

S236/15/1 Zessers court case. Accounts, receipts & handwritten

document - Part 1

1976-77

S236/15/2 Zessers court case. Accounts, receipts & handwritten

document - Part 2

1976-77


Page 23


S236/16 Building material samples

S236/16/1 Melded Fabrics P/Ltd carpet samples.

n.d.

S236/16/2 Samples of Colours in Relation to Illumination

Levels.


Page 24


S236/17 Oversize Parcels

S236/17/1 Railways Stations by Mason W. V. Self publication.

52 pages

n.d.


Page 25


S236/18 Thesis

S236/18/1 Mason's 'On Railways and Their Structures'


Page 26


S236/19 Slides

S236/19/1 Teaching aid 'New Life for Old Buildings' with

accompanying booklet

Nicholas Jones , 'Environment Architecture - New

Life for Old Buildings' Part 1. Diana Willie Ltd

.


Page 27


S236/20 Specifications

S236/20/1 Residence at Prince Edward Ave, Earlwood for WV

Mason.

AO drawing, watercolour & pen. (in plan file drawer)

1949

S236/20/2 Residence at Zions Ave, Malabar Heights for B R

Roberts

n.d.

S236/20/3 Alterations to 8 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Coffee

lounge for Ms M Denes

1958

S236/20/4 Residence at Mosman for Mr Winston 1958

S236/20/5 Residence at St Andrews Ave, Mt Osmond SA

n.d.